SoCultures October 2018

SoCultures October 2018
is that I was first time called ‘Mahatma’ in a small function organized by the royal
physician of erstwhile Gondal State in Saurashtra Peninsula.
S That’s interesting! Why they called you Mahatma? Can we explain this title, the
meaning of Mahatma?
But let me add that this epithet 'Mahatma' later became a universally accepted
synonym for Gandhi and you have been immortalized as 'Mahatma Gandhi' in the
world history. Of course, Satyagraha and non-violence in the year 1906 became a
powerful tool to fight the injustice of British against Indians and blacks in South
Africa. It inspired leaders from Twentieth countries to lead civil rights movement.
After all, Mahatma means a good soul.
M (looks at me and then
smiles shyly) I don’t know I
was just doing my work. All I
worked for and believed in,
“Progress for all”, “Wellbeing
for all” and “Universal uplift”
(Pauses) Otherwise, to get
better generalized meaning of
this word, I was surfing the
net and there I see this
explanation for this word…Umm..wait let me check this blog I think its name is
https://adipurusha.wordpress.com. Well, there is a good explanation, ‘Mahatma’ is
nothing but a higher plateau of our self – achieved through one’s self-discipline,
one’s devotion to a singular motive or vision, aided by self-belief that is more than
self-confidence, and effective politics which is good ‘morally right’ inter-personal
skills. There has to be a greater goal through which others can be benefited besides
one’s own self. Altruistic people are selfless in the real sense, because they act
keeping ‘selflessness’ as the center of their actions. Self-effacing or ‘self-sacrifice’
can lead one to his higher self. Knowledge of own self can make one to be a
Mahatma. Humility, self-endurance and ‘sincere and righteous’ public empathy
can make one lead a life of a Mahatma.
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